There have been several announcements lately about channel programs from Windstream, AT&T, InterNap, Integra and others. In a few cases, the announcements are in defense of reduction in force. In the wake of layoffs, the carriers are defending their channel position. In unison they are singing, "We still like the channel!"

At a master agency, Microcorp One-on-One, the Cable 3 Sisters gave a presentation together. They have been sharing booth space for a couple of years - and presenting together for a while. This was my first view of it.

Dany Bouchedid, CEO at COLOTRAQ, a data center and cloud master agency, joins me for a 7 minute podcast about their soon to be released "cloud based software for agents and clients" named DCI-TRAQ.

DCI-TRAQ will allow agents to get information, collateral and quotes about data center infrastructure, like PAAS, IAAS, VPS, colocation, virtualization, hybrid cloud. (Yes, every keyword I could think of.) Take a listen for yourself.

Note: I would classify it as a partner portal with a knowledge base, similar to the Microcorp"s Nautilusâ¢, "the most advanced, accessible, back office portal for managing the sale and support of telecom and cloud solutions."

It looked like the fun days of telecom again at the CP Expo in Vegas this week. The parties were almost constant. I know Vegas is known for drinking but people were holding Bud Light bottles starting way early morning to, well, early morning.

My pal, Dany Bouchedid, is CEO of master agency, COLOTRAQ. We met during the founding of the TCA. We talk for about 7 minutes about the consolidation in the data center space and the trends for this sector of telecom.

We have a huge Net Neutrality debate, Open Internet fights (especially between Netflix and ISPs) and peering duels (between ISPs and backbones, notice the pattern?). Why? Lack of broadband competition.

Big mergers still in play: AT&T buying DirecTV to keep up on TV; and Comcast in a three way with Charter over TWC.